In honor of National Nurses Week, we are proud to feature Amanda Hopkins as today’s Chambana Mom to Know. Hopkins is a Champaign-Urbana native who received three degrees (Bachelor’s (1999), Master’s (2005) and PhD (2010) in Nursing Science, all from the University of Illinois. Formerly a floor nurse on the pediatric unit at Carle Foundation Hospital and a travel nurse, Hopkins currently is an instructor at the Urbana site for the University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Nursing. She continues to work with Carle in a consulting role for the Nursing Education and Professional Development Department. She and husband Matt live in Champaign with their two energetic little girls (4-year-old Julia and 2-year-old Maria) and will be welcoming their third child, a little boy, who is due in early August.
See why we think Amanda Hopkins is a Chambana mom to know.
Q: Why did you decide to become a nurse?
I went into nursing because I loved science and had a passion for helping others. The job market is good, as is the financial compensation. The profession of nursing is so versatile and rewarding in so many ways.
I really work to instill a value of providing culturally-sensitive, family-centered care. You must have self-awareness when caring for ALL patients. Also, the “patient” isn’t your only patient. In nursing, you provide various types of care for all family members. The whole family becomes your patient.
I have learned that I’m getting too darned old for this! 🙂 Seriously, I’m more relaxed and embracing of not being able to “do it all”.
Hey, I got lucky. My husband is my best friend and my partner. I know it’s a cliche but I truly mean that. We have a partnership. Sometimes, it’s 90-10 or 60-40 but it ALWAYS works out in the end to be 50-50. He has the patience in the family so I think his job is harder. Plus, have you met me???? I’m not the easiest person to live with!
I LOVE my bike. Purchasing my 2003 883 XL Custom Harley-Davidson was the BEST (and only) thing I have ever purchased for myself. I was raised around Harleys so owning a bike of my own someday has always been an expectation of mine. However, my husband does not ride so I either had to buy one for myself or give up the passion. As you know, I don’t give up that easily.
I have a phenomenal support system of family and friends and without them WE would not be able to accomplish all that we accomplish. I was raised by a family that taught me that you could achieve anything that you wanted to achieve. You just had to work hard and work smart. I have a wonderful aunt (Julie Savignac) who is my role model both as a person and as a parent. I look to her example as guidance for the type of community member I’d like to become. My husband is my main source of motivation and support. My in-laws and my mother provide child care so I am able to work in an area I have a passion for all while knowing my children are with people that love them and care for how they spend their time during the day when I am not present. For me, work outside the home and within the community is just as important to me as it is to truly BE with my children when I’m with them. When my daughters ask why I have to go to work, I don’t tell them it’s just for the money. I tell them that I am fortunate enough to love my work as a nurse. I tell them that it makes me feel good to know that, through my occupation, I am impacting lives in the community. I also tell them that I hope they, too, find an occupation in which they can feed that passion they possess to make the changes they want to see in the world.
Editor’s note: Hopkins will be giving a presentation on “An In-depth Examination of Four Cultures (Asian, African-American, Latina and Lesbian) and their Impact on Perinatal Care” on Tuesday, May 17th from 5:30-8:30 pm in the Pollard Auditorium at Carle’s Forum building. The presentation is free but please call 217-326-1818 to reserve a seat.